In the Beginning.....

We've been married a total of 3 1/2 years this past week and after about two years of marriage was when it hit. For those newlyweds and singles reading, you'll find out soon enough. It starts slowly, with looks and glances, occasional passing comments when suddenly one day it comes right out. You can keep it just beneath the surface for a time, at least you can try.

Whenever we're home for a visit, my Dad and I make our evening rounds of the farm feeding animals, appreciating the latest in his never-ending projects, explaining what he'd like to do next. These are times to catch up, talk about this and that, where we've been and where we're going. It was a few of these conversations that turned toward the inevitable topic. Now my Dad may be gruff and enigmatic to many, but the man wants to be a granddad and to me the anticipation and eagerness is obvious no matter how calm and collected he tried to be when broaching the subject. Suffice it to say that he and my mom had been talking about it, and they were curious but did not want to be intrusive or pressing. We had a good talk, the five year plan and all that. I thought we were okay, keeping the family awkwardness at bay when the very next day the eager young cousin blurts out over a Sunday lunch, "So when y'all gonna have a baby!?!?"

We were outed...the "Baby Watch" had begun......